FirstGov for Seniors NEWS ARTICLES FOR APRIL 2000
Welcome to the April 2000 edition of the FirstGov for Seniors monthly newsletter. This newsletter is a compilation of articles that were featured on the FirstGov for Seniors website in the past month. Articles are organized by the following categories:
Featured News
General News
Health News
Legislative News
Special Topic of the Month (Osteoporosis)
PRESIDENT CLINTON RELEASES NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE AND PRICING STUDY On April 10, 2000, the President released a new study by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that showed, among numerous other findings, that seniors without drug coverage not only lack insurance against high costs, but do not have access to the discounts and rebates that insured people receive. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/clinton_prescriptions.html
PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES SOCIAL SECURITY ONLINE RETIREMENT PLANNER On April 7, 2000, in a signing ceremony for the elimination of the Social Security retirement earnings test, President Clinton unveiled a new electronic service by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help Americans better prepare for their financial future -- an online retirement planner. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/retirement_planner.html
RETIREMENT PLANNING TOPIC ON SENIORS And while yor're at it, visit the retirement planning guide on the Seniors website as well where you'll find information about financial planning, saving and investment, and housing. More sections on medical benefits, planning for leisure activities, and special needs will appear in the near future. http://www.seniors.gov/retirement.html
FROM DIGITAL DIVIDE TO DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY: A NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION Access to information technology and the Internet and the ability to use this technology effectively are becoming increasingly important to full participation in America's economic, political and social life. While computer and Internet access has exploded in recent years, America faces a "digital divide", a gap between those who have access to Information Age tools and the skills to use them and those who don't. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/digital_divide.html
MEDICARE TOLL-FREE LINE COMMEMORATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY: MORE THAN 1 MILLION CALLS RECEIVED AT 1-800-MEDICARE In just 12 months, more than 1.5 million callers - Medicare beneficiaries and the people who help them with their health care decisions - have used America's new telephone number for Medicare information, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/medicare_toll_free.html
NEW WEBSITE FROM THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER Presented by the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC), healthywomen.org is the one-stop shop for women's health information on the web. This site includes content, frequently asked questions and consumer tips on fitness, nutrition and disease prevention, as well as healthcare issues ranging from teen health to pregnancy to post-menopausal concerns. http://www.healthywomen.org/
U.S. ADMINISTRATION ON AGING TO HOST SYMPOSIA, MAY 23-25, 2000 The Administration on Aging is pleased to announce the second of a two-part symposia series directed toward the challenges and opportunities of a long living society. The Symposium will enable those in attendance to generate measurable outcomes that, among other things, improve health status, reduce health disparities, increase economic security, decrease caregiver stress and increase the independence of older persons. http://www.aoa.gov/chicago2000/default.htm
HUD SPONSORS CONFERENCE "KEEPING THE AMERICAN DREAM: MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE GOLDEN YEARS" The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is sponsoring "Keeping the American Dream: Meeting the Challenges of the Golden Years". This conference will promote joint efforts that can deliver the housing and other services needed to enhance the lives of older Americans, particularly those with limited incomes and in need of medical attention. The conference will be held May 4-5, 2000 in Baltimore, Maryland. http://www.hud.gov/pih/events/amerdrm/am_dream.html
NEW WEB SITE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE NIH MINORITY HEALTH INITIATIVE On April 14, 2000 the Office of Research on Minority Health (ORMH) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched a new web site to offer the public and scientific community information about the NIH Minority Health Initiative (MHI). This multi-year program supports biomedical and behavioral research aimed at improving the health of minority Americans and research training programs designed to increase the numbers of underrepresented minorities in all aspects of biomedical and behavioral research. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/NIH_website.html
SURVEY SHOWS THAT AMERICANS ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR "GOLDEN YEARS" A recent study by the National Council on Aging in collaboration with the International Longevity Center shows that nearly half (44 percent) of Americans age 65 and older describe the present as the best years of their lives. http://www.ncoa.org/news/mra_2000/mra2000.html
GRASSLEY TO FUNERAL, BURIAL CONSUMERS: SHOP CAREFULLY Funeral and burial consumers should shop carefully for what will be one of their largest lifetime purchases said Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/funeral.html
SENIORS ARE TARGETED FOR TRAVEL SCAMS Senior citizens travel more than almost any other group of people, and unfortunately, are often the target of travel scam artists. NBC Travel Editor, Michael Greenberg, exposes the categories of travel scams targeted at senior citizens. http://www.msnbc.com/news/393999.asp
BABY BOOMERS AND SENIORS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING GROUP OF INTERNET USERS Last year the number of baby boomers and seniors using the Internet grew by 18.4 percent. http://cyberatlas.internet.com/big_picture/demographics/article/0,1323,5901_ 334031,00.html
ARTHRITIS: TIMELY TREATMENTS FOR AN AGELESS DISEASE Myths about arthritis keep people from seeking a doctor's help against the number one cause of disability in the United States, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arthritis disables more Americans than heart disease and stroke, and CDC says it's what Americans don't know about the disease that can hurt them. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/300_arth.html
TRIALS SHOW NO EFFECT OF LOW-FAT, HIGH-FIBER, AND HIGH-FRUIT AND -VEGETABLE DIETS ON THE GROWTH OF NEW COLORECTAL POLYPS IN PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY OF PRECANCEROUS POLYPS Two studies of nutritional interventions in people at high risk of colorectal cancer yielded no evidence that diet affects the growth of precancerous colorectal polyps (adenomatous polyps or adenomas) in people who have already had a polyp removed. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States and polyps are the precursors to most colorectal cancers. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/colorectal_cancer.html
NHLBI STUDY SHOWS ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SLEEP APNEA AND HYPERTENSION People with sleep apnea are at special risk for hypertension, according to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. Data from the study show that middle-aged and older adults with sleep apnea have a 45-percent greater risk of hypertension than people without the condition. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/sleep_apnea.html
FDA APPROVES TREATMENT FOR WET MACULAR DEGENERATION The Food and Drug Administration announced the approval verteporfin for injection (Visudyne), the first therapy to slow vision loss in people with the classic type of "Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)". AMD, a retinal disease causing severe and irreversible vision loss, is a major cause of blindness in individuals older that 60 years in the Western World. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/macular_degeneration.html
SECRETARY SHALALA'S STATEMENT REGARDING R.J. REYNOLDS' NEW PRODUCT, ECLIPSE Donna Shalala expresses significant concerns about the marketing plans for R.J. Reynolds' new product, Eclipse. Click here to read Secretary Shalala's statement. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/eclipse.html
HCFA ANNOUNCES NEW MEDICARE HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT PAYMENT SYSTEM The Health Care Financing Administration today announced a new Medicare payment system for hospital outpatient services designed to encourage more efficient delivery of care and to ensure more appropriate payment for services by Medicare and its beneficiaries. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/hcfa_payment.html
MEDICARE INITIATIVE AIMS AT GETTING SENIORS TO GET FLU SHOTS Building on the early success of its campaign to get more older Americans vaccinated against flu, Medicare is sponsoring a new pilot program that will make annual flu and pneumonia shots almost automatic in the nation's nursing homes. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/medicare_flushots.html
HEALTH CENTER CLINICIANS USE NEW INTERNET TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE QUALITY, STEM MEDICAL ERRORS Patients at 160 Health Resources and Services Administration-funded community health centers will benefit from higher quality, more error-free primary health care services, thanks to a donation of Internet tools and training from MedicaLogic, Inc. -- the online health record company. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/hrsa_and_internet.html
U S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 2000 NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES Health observances are days, weeks or months devoted to promoting particular health concerns. The month of April has the following health observances: Alcohol Awareness Month; Cancer Control Month; Counseling Awareness Month; Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month; National Autism Awareness Month; National Child Abuse Prevention Month; National Occupational Therapy Month; National STD Awareness Month; National Youth Sports Safety Month, and Women's Eye Health and Safety Month. http://nhic-nt.health.org/Pubs/2000healthobserv/nhoapr.htm
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOCTOR A recent study published in January in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society provides advice to older Americans about improving the relationship with their doctors. http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/04/06/doc.you.wmd/index.html
WALNUTS MAY LOWER CHOLESTEROL LEVELS FOR OLDER PEOPLE A recent study found that substituting walnuts for olive oil as part of a low-fat Mediterranean style diet lowered the high-cholesterol levels of middle aged and elderly people. http://www.cnn.com/2000/FOOD/news/04/04/walnut.reut/index.html
NEW STUDY FINDS THAT ELDERLY PATIENTS MAY NOT BE RECEIVING STROKE-PREVENTING DRUGS Dr. Brian F. Gage reports that older patients, particularly elderly women who live in rural areas, are not receiving stroke-preventing drug treatments. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000406/hl/dgc_7.html
SCIENTISTS TARGET A MASTER GENE LINKED TO CANCER, ARTHRITIS AND OTHER AGE-RELATED DISEASES Scientists said Monday they have discovered a master gene that appears to contribute to development of cancer, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and other diseases associated with aging. http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/04/10/aging.genes/index.html
NEW DRUG TREATMENT FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE APPROVED BY FDA On April 21, 2000, the FDA approved Novartis Pharmaceuticals' Exelon to provide relief for mild to moderate Alzheimer's symptoms. http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/alzheimers000422.html
RECENT STUDY SHOWS LONELY ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK FOR DEVELOPING DEMENTIA A recent study in The Lancet medical journal reported that elderly people who live alone and have a limited social network may have 60 percent increased risk of developing dementia. http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/aging/04/14/health.dementia.reut/index.html
DOES DIET AFFECT PROSTATE TROUBLE? Prostate cancer is the No. 1 cancer in American men, but "prostate trouble" touches an even larger number. Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a noncancerous condition characterized by enlargement of the prostate. It occurs in about half of men in their 60s, and 80 to 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s. Differences in eating habits may affect risk of prostate cancer, and now studies suggest that diet may even help men avoid benign enlargement. http://www.msnbc.com/news/389205.asp#BODY
GRASSLEY URGES WORK-FRIENDLY POLICIES FOR OLDER AMERICANS On the heels of repealing the Social Security earnings limit, Congress must consider lifting any other barriers to employment for older workers, said Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the special Committee on Aging. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/work-friendly_policies.html
SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDS GAIN THREE ADDITIONAL YEARS OF SOLVENCY The Social Security Board of Trustees released their annual report revealing that the Social Security program's long-range financial picture has improved since last year. Specifically, the Board announced that the Social Security trust fund assets will not be depleted until 2037 - three years later than reported in last year's report. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/SSA_trust_funds.html
MEDICARE TRUSTEES ISSUE ANNUAL REPORTS The Medicare Trustees reported that the Hospital Insurance (HI) trust fund will remain solvent until the year 2023, based on the most probable economic and demographic assumptions. The projected depletion date has been extended by eight years from the forecast of 2015 made by the trustees last year. Today's estimate is the longest projection of solvency since 1974. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/medicare_trust_funds.html
MEDICARE TO INCREASE PAYMENT RATES TO PROTECT NURSING-HOME RESIDENTS WITH HIGH-COST MEDICAL NEEDS HCFA Administrator Nancy-Ann DeParle announced on April 7, 2000 that Medicare will increase payment rates to skilled nursing facilities for those residents who have the most costly medical needs. http://www.seniors.gov/articles/0400/nursinghome_payments.html
SPECIAL TOPIC OF THE MONTH (OSTEOPOROSIS):
OSTEOPOROSIS: THE SILENT BONE THINNER The National Institute on Aging provides information on osteoporosis diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://www.nih.gov/nia/health/ pubpub/osteo.htm
MEDICARE AND OSTEOPOROSIS Find out what Medicare is doing about osteoporosis, what Medicare pays for, and who is eligible for a bone mass measurement test under Medicare. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://www.medicare.gov/wellne ss/osteopor.html
THE CALCIUM INFORMATION RESOURCE This website is sponsored by SmithKline Beecham and provides information about calcium, links to other websites, a calcium calculator, and a specially designed children's area. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://www.calciuminfo.com/ind ex.htm
OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA FOUNDATION, INC. The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, Inc. (OI Foundation) is the only voluntary national health organization dedicated to helping people cope with the problems associated with osteogenesis imperfecta. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://www.oif.org/
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) is a professional medical/scientific society established to bring together clinical and experimental scientists involved in the study of bone and mineral metabolism. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://www.asbmr.org/
FALL AND FRACTURE PREVENTION NEWSLETTER The National Institutes of Health, Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center, has produced a newsletter on fall and fracture prevention. http://www.osteo.org/newsvol2no1.html
ADMINISTRATION ON AGING PROVIDES LINKS TO OSTEOPOROSIS WEBSITES The National Aging Information Center, sponsored by the Administration on Aging, provides links to osteoporosis websites containing consumer information, diagnosis and treatment statistics, and research aid education. http://www.aoa.gov/NAIC/Notes/osteoporosis.html
INTERNATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is an international non-governmental organization whose mission is to advance the understanding of osteoporosis and to promote prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease worldwide. http://www.osteofound.org/
DR. C. EVERETT KOOP PROVIDES MEDICAL CONTENT ON THE INTERNET Dr. Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General and current Chairman of drkoop.com, provides accurate and reliable healthcare information online. http://www.drkoop.com/conditions/Osteoporosis/
NEW BOOK ON OSTEOPOROSIS TREATMENT AND PREVENTION In her new book, "Strong Women, Strong Bones: Everything You Need to Know to Prevent, Beat and Treat Osteoporosis", nutritionist Miriam Nelson debunks the myths of osteoporosis. http://www.msnbc.com/news/387859.asp#BODY
DOCTOR'S GUIDE TO OSTEOPOROSIS INFORMATION AND RESOURCES The Doctor's Guide website provides the latest medical news and information on osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related disorders. The Doctor's Guide can send the latest in osteoporosis developments to your email address. http://www.pslgroup.com/OSTEOPOROSIS.HTM#Disease
CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY OSTEOPOROSIS RESEARCH CENTER The purpose of this website is to educate those seeking knowledge and to allow those with the disease to see where their efforts are going and what they can do to help. They have a set of resources located in the Osteo-"Sites" section with centers around the country who provide services. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://osteoporosis.creighton. edu/
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - OSTEOPOROSIS AND RELATED BONE DISEASES - NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER NIH ORBD~NRC provides a link between current resources and the individuals (e.g., health professionals, patients, and the public) who are trying to locate these resources. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://www.osteo.org/
HIP FRACTURES RISING AMONG OLDER WOMEN Hip fractures among women 65 and older have climbed 40 percent between 1988 and 1996, with about a third of older Americans suffering serious falls each year, the government said Thursday. http://www.msnbc.com/news/388995.asp#BODY Also see http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4902a2.htm
NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist. This website provides a multitude of information about the disease, how to prevent it, educational materials and other information. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://www.nof.org/
FOUNDATION FOR OSTEOPOROSIS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (FORE) FORE is a non-profit resource center dedicated to preventing osteoporosis through research and education of the public and medical community to increase awareness of risk, detection, prevention and treatment. http://www.seniors.gov/cgi-bin/redir.pl?redir=http://www.fore.org/
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